Vessel-propelling mechanism.



No. 648.460. Patented May I, I900.

M. B. HUNTER.

VESSEL PBUPELLING MECHANISM.

A liation filed m. 11, 1598.)

2 sheatssheat m ew IN VE N TOR M A TTOHNEY.

m: NORRIS PETER! (10., mm. wuumlrrou. n. a

"- 643,46 Patentd May I, I900.

B., HUNTER.

VESSEL PRDPELLING MECHANISM.

Ap lication mad Mar. 11, 1898.) I (No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

A TTOHNE Y.

THE NORRIS PETERS I90w PNGTO-UTHO.. WASHINDTOYN. m c.

To all whom it may concern:

MARTIN B. HUNTER, OF EDWARDSVILLE, KANSAS, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF PATENT OFFICE.

TO OLIVER M. SCHEE, OF KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI.

VESSEL-PROPELLIING MECHANISM.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 648,460, dated May 1, 1900.

Application mad March 11, 1898; Serial No. 673,473. (No model.)

Be it known that I, MARTIN B. HUNTER, a

f citizen of the United States, residing in'Edfwardsville, in the county of Wyandotte and State of Kansas, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Vessel-Propelling Mechanisms, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawings. V i

My invention relates to improvements in boat-propelling mechanisms.

The object of my invention is to provide a paddle propelling mechanism for vessels in which the paddles are given a reciprocating 'motion through the water through the intermediacy of suitable mechanism, means beitlg provided by which the paddles are placed during half a complete reciprocation at substantially right angles to the course of the vessel and in a parallel plane therewith during the other half-reciprocation. p In the accompanying drawings, illustrating my invention, Figure I represents a plan view of a vessel provided with my propelling mechanism. Fig. II represents a side eleva tion showing the forward paddles moving forward in the closed position and the rear paddles moving rearward in the open or operative position. Fig. III represents a plan view of one of the cross-heads and some connected parts, the paddle-shaft being shown in transverse section. Fig. IV represents a vertical longitudinal sectional view of one of the crossheads, paddle-shaft, braces, &c., and the paddle in the closed position. Fig. V represents a plan view of one of the paddle-braces.

Similar numerals of reference indicate similar parts.

transversely across the vessel and provided at each end with suitable supporting-bearings. The driving-shaft may be rotated by any desirable means, as by a gas-engine,

steam-engine, electric motor, or other motive power, which, if desired, may be applied to a spur-gear 7, secured upon the driving-shaft at any desirable point thereon. Near each end of the driving-shaft 6, and preferably within the hull of the vessel and secured rigidly upon the shaft, is a spur gear-wheel 8. To the rear of each gear 8 and meshing therewith is a spur-gear 9, secured rigidly upon the inner end of a horizontal crank-shaft 10,

mounted in suitable bearings upon the frame 2 and in the hull of the vessel. Each of the crank-shafts lOis provided with a crank-arm 11, to which is pivoted the forward end of a pitman 12, the rear end of which is pivoted 7o which in turn is mounted in bearings similarly disposed to the crank-shafts 10. Forwardof the intermediate gears 13 and meshing therewith,respectively,are the spur-gears 15, secured upon the inner ends of the horizontal crank-shafts 16, having each the crankarm 17, to which are pivoted, respectively, the rear ends of the forward pitmen, (indicated by 18,) the forward ends of which are pivoted, respectively, to the rear ends of the forward cross-heads 3. The crank-arms 11 are disposed with reference to the crank-arms 17 in a diametrically-opposite position, so that during rotation the pitmen 12 will be forced rearward, while the pitmen 18 are forced forward, thus reciprocating the rear crossheads in one direction and at the same time reciprocating the forward cross-heads in the opposite direction. Near the center ofeach cross head 3 is a vertical opening therethrough, provided, as indicated in 'Fig. IV, 5 In each of with a key-seat 19 in one side.

these openings is vertically and circumferentially movably fitted a vertical paddle-shaft 2Q, externally screw-threaded from its upper end two-thirds or so of its length and provided on diametrically-opposite sides with two longitudinal key seats or grooves 21.

wardly, to swing upon their hinged supports, owing to the resistance of the water into the position shown in Figil'vor in a plane par,-

allel with the course of the vessel, and when the cross-head moves in the opposite rdirec-v tion the paddles will be forced by the water into a position substantiallyat right angles to the course of the vessel until they come in contact with the rubber buEer-strips -23, 7

secured each by means of the plates 25;, respectively, to the transverse arms of the paddlebrace 24, of which thereare two mounted upon 'eachshaft 20, one near the top of the pad-'2 dies and one near the'bottom of the paddles. Each horizontalpaddle-brace '24 is provided .with a central vertical hole through it, as: shown in Fig. V, and a key-seat 26. The paddle-braces are mounted transversely upon the shafts 20 and are held securely thereoni against rotation or vertical movement by 7 means of keys 27, which are fitted in the keyseats provided in the periphery of each of the shafts 20 and the paddle braces24i Upon each of the paddle-shafts 20, above the cross- 1 head upper guides, is mounted a hand-wheel? 28,,provided withan internallyrscrew-thread edhole in the-hub fitted to the screw-threaded vportion-of the shaft 20. To prevent circum-fi ferential movement of the hand-wheelsg28, 1 keys '29 are provided, which are fittedinto the keyways on the shafts 20, an'dk'eyway'si Be e 'th'e jha'nd-wheels and the upper .sid esof; the cross-heads upon each shaft 2O,is-mounted;a sleeve 30, the lower end of which is slotted to" receiveoneend of a horizontalrlock'ing(slid? ingbolt '31, which rests upon the cross-head, and has one end adapted to enter one ofthe" longitudinal'keyways in the shaft 20 -Tliis', end of the "slidinglocking-bolt is provided 7 with {a -dov'vnwardlyextending projection};

whic'his forwardand rearwardly movable 'the'key-seat 1'9 ofthecross-head. Th'e-key31 f fhas'its other end projecting through a guide f plate 32, securedupon the uppers'ide of thej cross-headland alsothrough a handlever'33', j One'end of whichispi-voted to the'uppc'rside of the cross-head and the other end .o'fwhich;

provided one in each hand-wheel.

extends toward the side of the v essel'.f,Upon

the extreme outer end of the locking-key'3l which is externally screw-threaded, is mount ed'a -nut34. A compression :coil-sprin'g-"35,

encircling the'key 31 and'be'aring atqxneendf uponithe guide plate 32 and atthe other end 69 f the locking-key 31 in'one of the longitudinal against the head of the key 31, normall-ylholds keyways in the verticalpaddle-shaft20. Be-

low each cross-head 3 is located'aihorizontal hrace-plate 36, provided with a central'vertical opening therethrough, throughwhichi extends one of" the shafts 20. Below each braceeplate36, upon the threaded portionof the shaft 20, is mounted a securing-nut 37, adapted to bear againstthe under side of the brace-plate. Upon each side of the shaft 20 are provided two upwardly and outwardly exs'crew-threaded and extend through openings provided therefor, respectively, in the cross head and brace-platens: Upon the upper and lower sides of the cross-head and the brace-plate 36,-respectively, upon the bracerods 38 are mounted sleeves 39, adapted to be held securely against the cross-head and brace-plate, respectively, by means of nuts 40, mounited upon the screw-threaded portions of-t'hebracewods 38. v

My invention is operated as follows: The parts having been assembled as already described, the paddles are. raised or lowered to lowering.the verticalshafts 20;; f This is ac-. complished by; first loosening the nuts 40 above and below the cross-heads, withdraw- Ii-ng key 29, and turningthe hand-wheel28 in a.direc tion such as will .raise ior lofwer the shaft. 7' When the shafthas been' :turned so asjto place the. paddles inthe desired position-vertically,,thenuts 40 are turned, so as to tightly lock the sleeves 13 9.against the :up- .per and'lo'w-er sides-roof thecross-head. H The lkeyu29 is then'replaced. It now ;the driving- 'shaft 6 be rotated'as,}for,instance,inlthe directionlindicated lby the arrow inFig. -II thecrank-shafts 10 and l'dwill be, rotated through the intermedia cy. of 3 the gears 8,19, 113, andf15, respectivelm al d will reciprocate the fpitmen' 12 and 18,fwhich infturn will cause a. reciprocation of the cross-heads, .the forward gcross heads 3 moving in onedirec- ,the oppositedirection; The forward Zpaddles fupon eachsi'de of the vessel; are thus moved in tone direction and the .rear paddles :in the oppositedirection; If, asshown in'Fig. II, the 'forwa'rd paddlesare movingforward, they illewing -up on theirsupportingshafts 20 in tea [plane parallel to the courseof-the Yessel, in whichpositionthey will offenbut little resistance to) the forward movement of the wardly, will spread and offer their wh'olesu rfaceasa resistingmedium. The rear-paddle {braces 24:; will prevent the too far forward movement of the jrear'paddles, whichwill have their forward sides rest against the but fers 23. Therea'r paddles being now-forced through the water in -the iopen position'describedfW ill cause the-vessel to move for- .wa'rd. "As soon as the cross-heads begin to "return in the opposite direction/the forward paddles will open "and the rearpaddles will close; L-It willibe seen fromthis description thattwose'ts of paddles are continually at flwork impelling the vessel,.and the power derived: from the engine driving the main shaft is exerted without any intermission, except for-an instant ateach end .of a stroke in forcing the vessel forward. I, If it is desired tending brace-rods 38, the ends of which are.

thed'esired depth in the water by raising or 1 'tioe'anjd 'the rear cross-heads 3 moving in vessel, whilethe rear paddles,(movingjrearv 648,460 v I v to back the vessel, it may be accomplished by drawing each lock bolt or key 31 out of the keyway in each shaft 20 through the intermediacy of the hand-levers 33, then turning the shafts 2O half a revolution by means of the hand-wheels 28, and finally releasing the hand-levers 33, when the springs 35 will force the lock-bolts 31 into the keyways upon the opposite side of the shafts 20 from the side in which they formerly engaged. It will be noted that the turning of the shafts 2O half-way around turns the paddles and the paddle-braces 24 into an opposite position to that formerly occupied by them, and a forward-and-backward reciprocation of the paddles will cause them to open on the forward reciprocation and to close on the rearward re-- the driving-shaft in any of the well-known manners commonly employed toobtainsuch disconnection. I

It is obvious that my invention is subjec tive to many modifications without departing from its spirit. The framework for supporting the cross-heads may be constructed of any suitable material and of any design that may be deemed most desirable for the particular construction of vesselon which it may be applied. The cross-heads may be mounted.

directly upon the guides, as in locomotive construction, without the employment of the carrying-wheels 4, and various other features of construction maybe altered to suitthe various requirements in different cases.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Pat- 1. In a vessel-propelling mechanism, the combination with a reciprocable cross-head, of an upright shaft carried" thereby, means for vertically adjusting the said shaft, means for reversing the position of the said shaft circumferentially, oneor more paddles carried by the shaft the paddles being in opera-v tive position during reciprocation in one direction relative to the shaft, substantially as described.

2. In a vessel-propelling mechanism, the

combination with a reciprocable cross-head of an upright shaft carried thereby, means for rotating the shaft, means for locking the shaft against rotation, one or more paddles hinged to the said shaft and one or more abutments for limiting the swing of the said paddles, substantially as described.

3. In a vessel-propelling mechanism, the combination with a cross-head, of means for reciprocating the same, an upright paddleshaft carried by the cross-head, means for vertically adjusting the shaft relative to the cross-head, means for rotating the shaft, and a releasable locking device for preventing rotation of the shaft, substantially as described.

4. In a vessel-propelling mechanism, the combination with a cross-head, of means for reciprocating the same, an upright paddleshaft provided with screw-threads, a handwheel mounted upon the screw-threaded portion of the shaft and supported by the crosshead, means for preventing rotation of the hand-wheel upon the shaft, and a releasable locking device for preventing rotation of the shaft with respect to the crosshead, substantially as described.

5.' In a vessel-propelling mechanism, the combination with the cross-head, of means for reciprocating the same,- an upright paddleshaft rotatably mounted in the cross-head and vertically adjustable thereon and provided with a longitudinal groove in its periphery, and a locking-bolt mounted on the cross head and adapted 'to enter the said groove, substantially asdescribed.

6. In a vesselpropelling mechanism, th combination with a cross-head, of a screwthreaded paddle-shaft rotatably mounted on the cross-head and provided with a longitudinal peripheral groove, a hand-wheel rotatably mounted on and having screw-thread connection with the shaft and supported by the cross-head, means for preventing rotation'of the hand-wheel upon the shaft, and a and adapted to engage the groove in the shaft, substantially as described.

7. In a vessel-propelling mechanism, the combination with a cross-head, of a vertical paddle-shaft rotatably mounted onthe cross- MARTIN B. HUNTER.

Witnesses: I

L.-O. HUNTER, O. M. Senna.-

IOO

locking mechanism carried by the cross-head 

